Lab 4 Physlets
The ball starts out traveling at a relatively slow, constant, and positive velocity for 0.8 seconds. Then, the ball accelerates to a higher, positive, and constant velocity, which it remains at for the rest of its motion.
Position vs. Time Graph Matching:
Graph A best describes the motion of the ball of the position vs. time graphs because from 0 to 0.8 seconds, the graph has a low, positive slope, which indicates a slow, positive, constant velocity. Then, at 0.8 seconds, the graph’s slope increases and remains at that slope for the rest of the time that the ball moves. This indicates the acceleration to a higher, positive, and constant velocity.
Graph B does not accurately describe the ball’s motion because the slope from 0 to 0.8 seconds is greater than that of the slope from 0.8 seconds to the domain’s end. In this graph, the starting velocity would have to be greater than that of the velocity after 0.8 seconds, but that is not the case.
Graph C incorrectly shows the ball’s motion because the graph show cases three different slopes, which indicates three different velocities. However, the ball only traveled at two different velocities, from 0 to 0.8 seconds there is one velocity and after 0.8 seconds there is another velocity. Therefore, the graph can only have two slopes, but Graph C shows three.
Velocity vs. Time Graph Matching
Graph D adequately describes the motion of the ball when time is on the x-axis and velocity is on the y-axis. Between 0 and 0.8 seconds, the graph has a slope of zero, indicating that the velocity stays the same over that domain and that the ball is not accelerating. At 0.8 seconds, the graph slopes instantly, but levels off into another line with a slope of zero. This indicates that the ball accelerated at 0.8 seconds, and the ball continued moving at the velocity to which it accelerated.
Graph E incorrectly represents the motion because the graph is sloped throughout the entire domain, indicating that the velocity is always changing. However, in reality, the ball only changes velocity or accelerates once.
Graph F does not match up with the ball’s movement because after 0.8 seconds, the line becomes sloped. This means that after 0.8 seconds the ball would have to continuously accelerate, but the ball actually only accelerates once, not continuously.
The ball starts out traveling at a relatively slow, constant, and positive velocity for 0.8 seconds. Then, the ball accelerates to a higher, positive, and constant velocity, which it remains at for the rest of its motion.
Position vs. Time Graph Matching:
Graph A best describes the motion of the ball of the position vs. time graphs because from 0 to 0.8 seconds, the graph has a low, positive slope, which indicates a slow, positive, constant velocity. Then, at 0.8 seconds, the graph’s slope increases and remains at that slope for the rest of the time that the ball moves. This indicates the acceleration to a higher, positive, and constant velocity.
Velocity vs. Time Graph Matching
Graph D adequately describes the motion of the ball when time is on the x-axis and velocity is on the y-axis. Between 0 and 0.8 seconds, the graph has a slope of zero, indicating that the velocity stays the same over that domain and that the ball is not accelerating. At 0.8 seconds, the graph slopes instantly, but levels off into another line with a slope of zero. This indicates that the ball accelerated at 0.8 seconds, and the ball continued moving at the velocity to which it accelerated.